Date       : 7th June 2022

Time      : 9.00 am to 1.00 pm

Platform : Agriculture Hall, Faculty of Agriculture and Live Facebook UPM

June 7- Institute of Plantation Studies (IKP) in collaboration with the Faculty of Agriculture, UPM had organized the Putra Plantation Forum Series 12 (PPF12) in Agriculture Hall, Faculty of Agriculture. The Secretary-General of Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC), YBhg. Datuk Ravi Muthayah, was invited as a special guest speaker to the forum and presented a paper entitled “National Agricommodity Policy (DAKN2030): Advancing Agricommodity for Sustainability and Shared Prosperity”. He highlighted the status, current issues in the Malaysian agricommodity sector, and the newly launched National Agricommodity Policy (DAKN2030). The aspiration of DAKN2030 is to expand the global market and increase the exports not only on raw commodities but also on value-added products. He also highlighted that the area of research especially on mechanization and automation should be expanded in which the technology is in demand to be transferred to the commodity sector in solving the labour issues.

He also elaborated that the National Agricommodity Policy (DAKN2030) is based on five core thrusts: sustainability, productivity, value generation, market development, and inclusivity for eight important commodities (oil palm, rubber, timber, cocoa, pepper, kenaf, biomass, and biofuel). These thrusts were formulated to tackle the following issues and challenges:

1. Sustainability demand: sustainable products to meet the global export demand (Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil-MSPO & Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme-MTCS)
2. Stagnant productivity: soil infertility, pest & diseases, inconsistent application of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), lack of manpower, unpredictable weather, overdependence on foreign labour, and youth’s perception of the agricommodity sector- 3D (Dirty, Dangerous, and Difficult)
3. Lack of value-creation: limited value-added products, inefficient infrastructures/logistics, limited development of downstream products, and local investors’ reluctance to take risks for the development of value-added products.
4. Market development restriction: volatility of commodity prices and foreign exchange rate
5. Inclusivity gap: smallholder low income, slow Bumiputera advancement, and low MSME (medium, small, micro-enterprises) contribution

Meanwhile, the forum session was moderated by Prof. Dr. Shaufique Fahmi Ahmad Sidique (Director, Institute of Plantation Studies). The forum session was fully utilized by audiences which come from various backgrounds (researchers and industrial players) to share their concerns, suggestions, and experiences. YAM Tengku Syarif Laksamana Perlis Dato’ Seri Diraja Syed Razlan Putra Jamalullail (Chairman, UPM Board of Directors) and Prof. Dr. B.T. Hang Tuah Baharudin (UPM Deputy Vice Chancellor-Industry and Community Relation), together with other 60 participants (physical and online participation) attended this event.

Date of Input: 13/07/2022 | Updated: 13/07/2022 | ainzubaidah